Stripping mechanism for hosiery driers



Feb. 21, 1933. H. F. WANAMAKER ET AL 1,898,918

STRI PPING MECHANISM FOR HOSIERY DRIERS Filed Oct. 5, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21, 1933. H. F; WAN'AMAKER ET AL STRIPPING MECHANISM FOR HOSIERY DRIERS Filed Oct. 5, 1931 5 ll?fi 2 1933. H. F. WANAMAKER ET AL 1,898,913

STRIPPING MECHANISM FOR HOSIERY DRIERS I Filed 001:. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MS.- ff 2' FWzmar Patented Feb. 21, 1933 STATES. PAT N F EC genes 3:. wenmnzgnn nn osnrn N. rnrrrson, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL-v Vania, ASSLIGNQB 'ro rnocron, & sonwenrz Inc, or rH LAnnLrHIA, PENN.-

sYLvnNIe, a conronerron or PENNSYLVANIA STRIPPING MECHANISM FOR I-XOSIERY DRIERS Application filed October 3, 1931. Serial No. 566,736.

Thisinvention relates to mechanism for re.- moving stockings from hosiery forms, and more particularly to mechanism for loosening thetop and leg portions of astocking from theform onwhich the stockinghas been dried, prior to the removal of the stocking from the formby mechanism which is arranged to grip the toe and heelportions of the stocking to draw thestocking OK the form upon relative longitudinal movement being effected between the foot grippers and the form.

The present invention constitutes an im provement over the devicedisclosed in the application of Harry E. VYanamaker, filed February 6, 1931, Serial No, 513,977.

For manufacturing purposes, the producersof hosiery, andespecially those-engaged in the manufacture of stockings of the sheerer grades,treat the stockings, or the threads of; which the stockings are composed, with a substance which, when a stocking is subsequently dried and finished on a' form, causes the stocking tov adhere to the form. Under such conditions, when the stocking is being removed from the form, by the above mentionedmeans which grips only the foot portion of thestocking as clearly disclosed in the above noted application, the stocking fabric, throughout the entire length of thestocking,

,is placed under severe strain in loosening of the stocking fabric from the form.

The above noted application discloses an apparatus for gripping a stocking at the opposite sides of the form at places adjacent the top or welt of the stocking only, for sliding that particular part of the stocking along the form from a wide part of the form to a relatively narrower part thereof, prior to the complete removal of the stockingfrom the form by the foot-gripping mechanism. However, in cases where the stockings or the threads of which the stockings are composed are processed in the manner above noted, it has been found that, as a result of such processing, the entire stocking adheres to the drying form to such an extent that the stocking is inclined to become distorted from the shape it had'attained by being dried on the form or may be otherwise damaged by the action of; the foot-gripping mechanism in effecting the complete removal of the stocking from the form.

The object of the present invention is to facilitate the removal of a stocking from a form by first loosening the top or welt of the stocking from the form, thereafter loosening the leg portion of the stocking from the form, and subsequently effecting complete removal of. the stocking from the form by the foot-gripping mechanism, as disclosedin the above identified application.

The construction and operation of the device forming the subject ofthe present application will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, ofwhich Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

Fig; 2 is a side elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4cis a sectional plan view taken on the line H, Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View taken on the line 55, Fig. 2.

As noted in the application referred to above, the stripping mechanism is adapted to operate in conjunction with a drier which includes a suitable track or frame that is adapted to support and guide a plurality of stooling' forms as they are successively moved along a predetermined path, a portion of which passes through a drying chamber.

In traversing the track the stocking forms enter the drying chamber through a suitable opening at one end thereof and, after remaining within the drying chamber for a predetermined length of time, emerge from the drying chamber through a similar slot or opening formed at the opposite end of the chamber.

- As the stocking forms emerge from the drying chamber, and while in a vertical position, they are engaged by the stripping mechanism that forms the subject of the present. invention. The stripping mechanism in the present instance comprises a. pair of brackets 11, 11 which are adapted to be secured to the frame or track that supports and guides the stocking forms in the manner above noted, thebrackets being disposed respectively at opposite sides of the opening of the drier through which the dryin forms 10 successively emerge.

tigidly secured in each of the brackets is a vertically extending guide post 12. Slid ably mounted on each of the posts 12, above the bracket 11, is a stripper carriage 13 which comprises an elongated sleeve on which is mounted a split collar 14. Pivotally mounted at 15 to the split collar 14 is an arm 16, to the outer end of which is secured a gripper or shoe 17 having a serrated face 18 which is adapted to engage the top or welt portion of the stocking for the purpose of loosening the said portion of the stocking from the form 10.

Adjacent the upper end of each of the posts 12 is slidably mounted a second gripper carriage 130 which, like the carriage 13, comprises an elongated sleeve adapted to slide on the post 12.

Mounted on and adjustably secured to the sleeve 13a is .a split collar 14a to which is pivotally connected, at 15a, an arm 16a. Se-

cured to the outer end of the arm 16a is a shoeor gripper 17a, having a serrated surface 18a which is adapted to engage the stocking on the form 10 at a plate intermediate the foot and welt portions of the stocklovement of the grippers 17 and 17 a from their inoperative positions, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to their operative positions,

. shown in broken lines in said figure, is effected by means of links 20, 20a respectively, which are connected at one end to the arms 16, 16a at points 21, 21a disposed intermediate the pivots for said arms and the grippers .carried by the free end of said arms, the

opposite ends of said links being pivotally connected at 22 and 22a respectively to lateral extensions 23 and 23a of collars or yokes 24 and 24a respectively.

The collars or yokes 24, 24 are slidably mounted on the sleeves 13 and 13a respectively between ,abutments in the form of collars 25 and 26 and 25a and 26a which limit the movement of the sliders 24 and 24a with respect to the sleeves 13 and 13a respectively,

the collars 25 and 25a limiting the movement of the grippers 17 and 17 a in a direction away from the stocking form 10 while the collars 26 and 26d limit the movement of the grippers 17 and 17a in directions toward the said stocking form. By adjusting the collars 26 and 26a relative to the sleeves 13, 1311 respectively the degree of pressure exerted by the grippers upon the stocking on the form 10 may be suitably regulated.

Below each of the ripper carriages 13 and 13a and secured to t e upright 12 are laterally extending bearings 27, 27 a respectively. Slidably mounted in the bearings 27, 27a and in a bearing 11a formed on the bracket 11 is an operating rod 28, which passes through and is rigidly gripped by split collars 30 and 30a formed on the outer ends of the lateral extensions 23, 23a of the sliders 24, 24a respectively.

The lower end of each of the rods 28 is operatively connected by means of a link 31 to a lever 32 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 33. On the shaft 33 is a lever 34 having its outer end slotted at 35 for the reception of a pin 36 carried by one arm 37 ofa bellcrank lever 38. The ball-crank lever 38 is pivoted at 39 in bearings 40 which are secured to any suitable portion of the framework of the drier above noted. The second arm 41 of the bell-crank lever 38 is adapted to beengaged by a roller 42 whichv is rotatably mounted on a disc or wheel 43 that is secured to a shaft 44;

The shaft 44 constitutes a art of the mechanism which effects traverslng of the stocking forms around the frame of the drier in the manner above noted, each revolution of the shaft 44 effecting the emerging of one of the stocking forms from the drier into a position to be engaged by the stripping mechanism and subsequently efi'ecting the operation of the stripping mechanism with respect to the emerged form.

Operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows: As the shaft 44 rotates and a form 10 emerges from the drier to a position intermediate the mechanisms carried by the posts 12, 12, the roller 42 engages the arm 41 of the bell-crank lever 38 and rocks said bell-crank lever,which in turn rocks the shaft 33 through the medium of the lever 34. Rocking of the shaft 33 raises the links 31, 31, thus raising the rods 28,28. Raising of the rods 28,28 causes the sliders 24, 24 to move upwardly on the sleeves 13, 13, thus swinging the grippers 17, 17 from their full line positions shown in Fig. 1 to their lower broken line positions shown therein, the upper surfaces ofthe sliders 24, 24 at such time engaging the lower side ofthe abutment collars 26, 26, and raising the sleeves 13, 13 and consequently the grippers 17 17 from their lower broken line positions shown in F ig. 1 to their upper broken line positions shown in said figure whereby the welt or top portion of the stocking, engaged by the grippers 17, 17 at opposite sides of the form 10, is loosened on the form 10 and moved upwardly thereon toward the intermediate leg portion of the stocking.

. Following, and in predetermined delayed timed relation to, the movements of the grippers 17 17, from their full line position to their lower broken line positions the grippers 17a, 17a move from their full line positions shown in Fig. 1 to their lower broken line 0- sitions, as shown in said figure, such timing being regulated by adjusting the positions of the collars 14a, 14a and 26a, 26a on the sleeves 13a, 13a relative to the positions of the corresponding elements 14, 14 and 26, 26 on the sleeves 13, 13, it being noted thatthe higher the positionsof the collars 14a, 14a on the sleeves 13a, 13a, the greater distance will be the grippers 17a, 17a from the form 10, consequently requiring a greater travel of the rods 18,18 and the sliders 240,, 21a thereon before the said grippers engage the stocking on the form 10. The abutment collars 26a, 26a are raised in-accordance with the collars 14a, 14a, in order: that the sliders 24a, 2-ita will engage the abutments 26a, 26a about the time the, grippers 13a,713a engage the stocking on the form 10, the pressure of the grippers being regulated by the positions of the abutments 26a, 26a on the sleeves 13a, 13a, as above noted. In this manner the movement of the grippers 17a, 17a from their full line positions to their lower broken line positions andthence to their upper broken line positions in delayed relation to the corresponding movements of the grippers 17, 17 is effected.

The result attained by the delayed actuationof the grippers 17a, 17a is. that the gripe pers 17, 17 working slightly in advance of the grippers 17a, 17a loosen the top portion of the stocking with respect to the form 10 slightly in advance of the loosening of the leg portion of the-stocking fromthe formlO by the grippers 17a, 176;, the two sets of grippers 17, 17 and 17a, 1760 then proceeding simultaneously to move the top and leg portion of the stocking toward the foot portion thereof on and with respect to the form 10.

- In order to absorb the shock attending the return of the elements to their full line positions, as shown in Fig. 1, cushioning means in the form of springs 45 and 45a are provided on the sleeves 13 and 13a respectively, between the upper sides of the lower abutment collars 25 and 25a and the lower surfaces of the sliders 24 and 24a respectively. Return of the elements to their inoperative positions is further controlled by clash-pots 46 and 46a, formed on the bearings 27, 27a respectively, which receive the lower ends of the sleeves 18, 13a respectively, the dash-pots being provided with suitable openings 47, 47a which permit a relatively slow escape of the air trapped between the lowerends of the dash-pots and the cup washers 48, 48a carried on the lower ends of the sleeves 13, 13a respectively. In order to absorb any-shock attending the return of the sleeves 13, 13a to their lower positions cushioning elements in the form of springs 49, 49a are provided in the lower ends of the dash-pots for engagement by the lower ends of the sleeves 13, 13a.

These shock-absorbing devices are pro vided for the reason that as the disc 43 rotatesthe roller 42 will ride 06? the outer end of the arm 41 thereby leaving the mechanism free to return to the lower inoperative position, as shown in full lines inFig. 1, such return being accentuated by a counterweight 5O suitably carried by the bell-crank 38 or by the shaft 39, to which the bell-crank is secured.

The lever 34: is operatively connected to the shaft 33 through the medium of a. sliding clutch collar 51 mounted on the shaft 38 and provided with jaws 52 which co-operate with similar jaws 53 formed on one side of the lever 34, the lever 34; being loosely mounted on the said shaft while the clutch sleeve 51 is splined to the shaft, the operative engagement of the jaws 52 with the jaws 58 being resiliently maintained by a spring 55 encircling the shaft 33 between the outer end of the clutch sleeve 51 and a collar 56 secured to the shaft- 53.

IVhen operation of the stripping mechanism is not required at such times, for example, as when a form 10 emerges from the drier without previously having had a stock ing placed thereon the clutch sleeve 51 is moved to release the jaws 52 thereof from the jaws 53 of the lever 34, so that the said lever may rOCk idly about the shaft 53, such movement of the clutch collar 51 being effected by any suitable means, such, for example, as a bellcrank lever 57 connected to an operating handle located at any desirable place on the drier by means of a link 58. Obviously, by providing a common ratchet and pawl mechanism on the operating handle the clutch may be held disengaged for any desired length of time, permitting the forms to pass out of the drier without being engaged by the stripping mechanism.

After the stripping mechanism has performed its work as above noted the forms are then dropped to a horizontal plane and gripped at their foot portions by the mechanism referred to in the above mentioned application, which, as the form continues to move in a horizontal plane, causes the stocking to beheld between the foot grippers while the form is withdrawn from the stocking, consequently drawing the stocking off the form in a smooth flat condition and in the undistorted shape of the form.

' We claim:

1. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, means for gripping the stocking at a plurality of points throughout the leg portion of the stocking on opposite sides of the form respectively, and means for effecting relative movement between the form and said gripping means.

2. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, means for gripping the stocking at a plurality of points spaced longitudinally throughout the length of the leg portion of the stocking on opposite sides of the form respectively,

and means for eitecting relativemovement i between the form and said gripping means longitudinally of the stocking.

3. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, means for gripping the stocking at a plurality of points spaced longitudinally throughout the length of the leg portion of the stocking on opposite sides of the form respectively, and means for moving the gripping means longitudinally with respect to the form and. in progressive order from the top portion of the stocking toward the foot portion thereof.

4. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, means for gripping the stocking at opposite sides of the form adjacent the top of the stocking, means for gripping the stocking at opposite sides of the form intermediate the top and foot portions of the stocking, and means for effecting relative movement between said gripping means and said form.

5. In a device for loosening. a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, means for gripping the stocking at opposite sides of the form adjacent the top of the stocking, means for gripping the stocking at opposite sides of the form intermediate the top and foot portions of the stocking, means for moving said gripping means relative to the form and toward the foot portion thereof, and means for effecting such movement of the top-gripping means in advance of the intermediate gripping means. p

6. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stockin has been dried, means for gripping the stoc ing at opposite sides of the form adjacent the top of the stocking, means for gripping the stocking at opposite sides of the form mtermediate the top and foot portions of the stockin means for moving said gri ping means re ative to the form and towar the foot portion thereof, means for efiecti such movement of the top-gripping means in advance of the intermediate gripping means, and means for regulating the relative timing of the said movements of said ipping means.

7. In a device or loosenin a stocking from a form on which the stoc ing has been dried, a support adjacent said form, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on said support at relatively s aced points for gripping said stocking at refaitively spaced points longitudinally thereof, a common actuator for said grippers, and means for varying the relation of said gripper pivots for timing the gripping actions of said grippers.

8. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, a guide disposed substantially parallel to said form, a pair of relatively spaced carriages slidably mounted on said gulde, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on said carriages respectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said grippers for swinging said grippers into contact with the stocking at longitudinally spaced points thereon, a slider operably mounted on each carriage and connected to said common actuator, an abutment on each carriage for engagement by said slider for moving the grippers longitudinally of the form subsequent to said contacting of the grippers respectively with the form, means for varying the relation of the said pivots, and means for varying the relation of said abutments relative to the carriages respectively for timing the contacting and longitudinal movements of the grippers relative to each other.

9. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, grippers for engaging and moving the stocking on and relative to the form, a rock shaft foroperating said grippers, means for oscillating said rock shaft, and means for disconnecting said rock shaft from said oscillating means.

10.-In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, a vertically disposed guide, a carriage on said guide, a gripper carried by said carriage, means for raising the carriage and the gripper and permitting the carriage and gripper to descend freely, and means carried y the guide and co-operating with the carriage for absorbing shock attending the descent of the carriage.

11. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, a vertically disposed guide, a carriage on the guide, a slider on said carriage, a per carried by the carriage and operative y connected to said'slider, means for raising the slider relative to the carriage and the carriage relative to the guide for operating said gripper and subsequently permitting the raised elements to descend freely, means 00- operating with and between the slider and the carriage and means co-operatin with and between the carriage and the guide for absorbing shock attending the descent of the raised elements.

12. In a device for loosenin a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, a vertically disposed guide, a carriage on the guide, a slider on said carriage, a per carried by the carriage and operatlve y connected to said slider, means for raising the slider relative to the carriage and the carriage relative to the guide for operating said gripper and subsequently permitting the raised elements to descend freely, means co-operating with and between the slider and the carriage and means co-operatin with and between the carriage and the guide for absorbing shock attending the descent of the raised elements, and means for retarding the free descent of the said raised elements.

13. In a device for loosening a stocking from a form on which the stocking has been dried, a vertically disposed guide, a carriage on said guide, a gripper carried by said carriage, means for raising the carriage and the gripper and permitting the carriage and gripper to descend freely, means carried by the guide and co-operating with the carriage for absorbing shock attending the descent of the carriage, and means for retarding the free descent of the carriage.

HARRY F. WANAMAKER. JOSEPH N. PATTISON. 

